Geuddae geusaramdeul (2005)

Director:

Sang-soo Im

Writer:

Sang-soo Im (writer)

Release Date:

3 February 2005 (South Korea)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | History

Plot:

A look at the life of President Park Chung-hee and the events leading up to his assassination.

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Male Nudity | Interrogation | Corruption | Democracy

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Jae-ho Song	...	President Park Chun-hee
Suk-kyu Han	...	KCIA Chief Agent Ju
Yun-shik Baek	...	KCIA Director Kim
Won-jung Jeong	...	President's Chief Bodyguard Cha
Sang-geon Jo
Sang-ho Kim	...	KCIA Agent Jang
Byung-gil Kwun	...	President's Chief Secreatry Yang
Jae-gu Lee	...	KCIA Agent Kwon
Seong-wook Kim
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dong-hun Choi	...	Army surgeon
Sang-gun Cho	...	KCIA Safehouse Caretaker Shim
Won Yung Chung
Eun-ji Jo	...	Banquet Guest
Sang-kyun Jo
Jong-jun Jung
Eung-soo Kim	...	KCIA Agent Colonel Min
Seung-wook Kim	...	KCIA Agent Won
Tae-han Kim	...	KCIA Agent Song
Yoon-ah Kim	...	Singer
Youn-a Kim

Also Known As:

The President's Last Bang (International: English title)

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Japanese | Korean

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:18 | Japan:PG-12 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15

Company:

MK Pictures

Trivia:

Four minutes of documentary footage in the movie was censored by the courts which claimed that it would confuse viewers who may believe this film is non-fiction. The film-makers opted to leave four minutes of black screen where the scenes were cut. The film has since been shown in its original version at the Pusan International Film Festival. The Supreme Court overruled its previous case, so the filmmakers were able to add the deleted footage.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: KCIA Director Kim at one point refers to the death of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, which occurred three years after the events depicted in the film.

Goodbye Mr. President

Korean cinema has made leaps and bounds in recent years. Though The President's Last Bang is slightly inferior to more recommendable Korean films, it is still a superb example in storytelling.

The autocratic President Park lives the life of a typical dictator; opulent surroundings, promiscuous women and complete authority. As such, the state of the country is becoming more and more disgusting to the chief of secret police, Director Kim. On October 26, 1979, Kim concludes enough is enough and conspires with his loyal deputies. What follows are the fateful actions of those involved.

The President's Last Bang created quite a controversy in its native South Korea when it was released due to divided public opinion on the former president. Filmwise, the movie is well done, idiosyncratic and morbidly humorous. When was the last time regicide made you laugh, caused compassion and intrigued? It doesn't matter, go and see The President's Last Bang.